Apparatus for delivering messages to moving trains and the like



Apr. 17, 1923. 1,452,443

J.RUTTER APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MESSAGES TO MOVING TRAINS AND THE LIKE Filed March 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l Apr. l 7, -1 923. 1,452,443

J. RUTTER APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MESSAGES TO MOVING TRAINS AND THE LIKE Filed March 5, 1921 2 sheets-Sheet 2 JIMR Jan/v RUTTEFE Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

*u-"irsn stares Jot-tn RuTTEia-for EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA.

APPanArUs 1 a nELIvEnIne'MEssitens TO MOVING TRAINS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed Mai-e11 5, 1921. Serial No. 450,039.

in-Apparatus for Delivering Messages to Moving Trains and the like, of which the following is a specification. I v.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for delivering messages to mov ing trains and the like and the objects of the invention are to providesimple and ei, fectiv'e means for delivering orders, me sages, clearance forms etc..-to engineers? and conductors on moving trains without stopping the train. vide such means as may be operative when the train is moving in either direction. Further objects still are to provide such means as will not form an obstruction when not required and may be swung out of position by the train itself in passing the sanze. Further objects are generally toimp'rove and simplify the constructioniof the device and tobetter enable it to perform the functions required of it. It consists essentially, of the improved construction hereinafter describedin detail in the accompanying specification and drawings.

,In the drawings 2' I Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus and a portion of the railway car.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view.

FigureB. is a sectional detail on the line wm, Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the engaging member on the side of the railway car.

Figure 5 is a detail in elevation of the end of the supporting guy for the delivery arm.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail on the line yy, Figure 1.

In the drawings, like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings A indicates a suitable base and B a post thereon having two delivery arms C at different heights thereon, one being designed to deliver messages to the engineer and one to the conductor. Each delivery arm includes a radially extending arm 10 pivotally connected at its inner end to a lugvl-l on a collar 12 which encircles the post B and is pivotally mounted thereon, its movement being limited by means of a projection 10 rormed Further objects are topro-.

on or secured to the annular flange 14: on the post and adapted to fit in an arcuate slot 15 n the collar 12 and thereby limit the swinging movement 01 the arm 10. The outer end 01 the arm 10 is provided with a roller 16 designed to roll on a semi-circular guideway 11, the extremities of which are supported by radially extending rods 18 and 19, the inner extremities ofzwhichare"connected to the post B. The centre portionof the guideway and that nearest to the bracket is formed with a notch 20 in which'the 'rol1ercl6 is designed to fit when the delivery arm is in engaging position, the guideway 17 being outwardly inclined on each side from the: notch as indicated in Figure 1 and being formed near the extremity with additional notches 21 into which thevroller is adapted to fit, and when the delivery arm is in disengaged position being adapted to be held in the said notches 21 by means 01 flat springs 22 which project overthe notches and have upwardly curved free ends designedto permit 1 the roller to engage in the notch. The outer portion of the guideway 17 is ,givenaddr tional support by means ofa bracket member 23 secured to the post by collarsQl and having a bifurcated upper end connected to 4 the guideway 17. I 1 1 1 The end 25 of the delivery arm which pro: ects beyond the guideway 17 is provided with a spring clip 26 designed to engage releasably to hold the bale 27 of the message box or tub'e 28 which latter may. be of any convenient form to contain the messages to be delivered and provided with a hingedcdoor 29 or other means for openingand closing the same A semaphore 30 or other'signalling device vmay be provided on thepro jecting end 25 above the clip 26. A signal lamp 31 may also be mounted in a stationary manner in the post provided with rotarv lens 32 having different colored lens therein, such as green and red, supported by a cylindrical member 33 which is rotatably journalled on an angular flange 34 formed on or secured to the post.

The locomotive cabin or railway car to which the message is to be delivered is formed with a suitable engaging device adapted to engage the bale 27 and remove it from the clip 26. The form of engaging device which I have devised is shown in Fgures 1 and 4 on the drawing and includes a pivotally mounted engaging member D which is pivotally mounted in brackets -10 on the railway car or the like, provided with a handle 41v by which it may beswung flat against the side of the car as shown in full lines in Figure 1 or projecting outwardly therefrom as shown in dotted lines in Figure l, the engaging member being provided with a projecting hook 42 designed to engage the bale 27 and remove the. same from the spring clip. In order to enable the hook is to be used when the car is moving in either direction, it is peripherally detachably connected to the central rod 43 of the member D which rod is provided with tooth projections 44 at opposite ends designed to be engaged with corresponding tooth projections 45 on the end of the hook, the projections 44 and 45 adapted to be held together by means of a belt 4-6 which extends through them. In this way the hook may be at tached to either end of the rod 43.

In using the device, the message is placed in the container 28 and the delivery arm swung outwardly until the roller 16 is engaged with the notch 20. The car or locomotive cabin having the engaging member D thereon approaching outwardly in operative position will, upon passing the delivery arm engage the bale 27, remove the same from the spring clip 26 and at the same time the force used in detaching the bale from the spring clip will be sufficient to swing the delivery arm 10 to one side, causing the .roller 16 to travel down the inclined portion of the guideway until it reaches the notch 21 and is held therein.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many widely different embodiments or" my invention within the scope of the claims, constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is zl. A device of the character described comprising in combination a pivotally mounted delivery arm, message carrying means, means for detachably connecting the message carrying means with the delivery arm, a bracket for supporting the outer ends of the delivery arm, engaging means adapted to be mounted on the moving body adapted to engage the message carryiiig means and a roller on the delivery arm adapted to engage the bracket, the said bracket being of semi-circular shape formed with a notch at the centre and one at each end and the end notches adapted to retain the roller therein.

2. A device of the character described comprising in combination a pivotally mounted delivery arm, message carrying means, means for detachably connecting the message carrying means with the delivery arm, a bracket for supporting the outer ends of the delivery arm, and engaging means adapted to be mounted on the moving body adapted to engage the message carrying means, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the delivery arm, said means comprising a collar connected to the delivery arm having an arcuate slot therein and a projection on the post adapted to engage in the arcuate slot.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a post, a collar pivotally mounted on'the post, a radially extending delivery arm pivotally connected to the collar, a spring clip on the outer end of the delivery arm, message carrying means adapted to be supported by the spring collar, a guideway supporting the delivery arm, being downwardly inclined ateach side thereof and engaging means adapted to be secured to the moving body and adapted to engage the message carrying means, the said engaging means comprising a pivotally mounted rod and hook member thereon, the hook member being adapted to be secured to either end of the rod.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BUTTER. Witnesses:

GLADYS G. CUFF, GRACE E. Moons. 

